Polaris Bank Supports Girl-Child Education in Nigeria’s Public Schools

20/10/2023

L-R: Chairman, Pacegate Limited (Owners of Evolve Charity), Manoj Kirpalani; MD/CEO, Polaris Bank Limited, Adekunle Sonola, and Managing Director, Pecegate Limited, Umesh Amarnani at the presentation of school bags, sandals, books, pens and school uniforms to Opebi Junior Grammar School Students in the ongoing CSR Partner in the Girl-Child Education Project in Lagos.

In another display of its commitment to supporting the ‘Girl-Child Education Project’, a critical pillar of its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) framework, Polaris Bank, in partnership with Evolve Charity, a non-profit organisation, has presented educational materials to more than 400 students in Ikeja and Surulere areas of Lagos State.

The donated materials which include; school uniforms, school bags, pens, sandals, and various books, were presented to the students of both Opebi Junior Secondary School, Opebi, Ikeja Lagos, on Wednesday, October 18, 2023 and Gbaja Junior Girls High School and Gbaja Senior Girls High School, at their school premises in Surulere, on Thursday, October 12, 2023.

The initiatives to the three Schools were part of activities marking the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF) International Day of the Girl (IDG). The International Day of the Girl is observed annually on 11 October, as a global platform to advocate for the full spectrum of girls’ rights. Fittingly, Polaris Bank’s support for the ‘Girl-Child Education Project’, seeks to promote empowerment of the girl-child through education.

Speaking at the presentation of the educational materials, at Opebi Ikeja, the Managing Director/CEO of Polaris Bank, Adekunle Sonola, spoke of the Bank’s commitment to quality education of the girl-child. “At Polaris Bank, we are of the firm belief that every investment on education, especially on empowerment of the girl-child, leaves a lasting impact, not only on the child, but on the society. This is why we partnered with Evolve Charity to launch the Support for the Girl Child Education Project.”

He reaffirmed the Bank’s confidence in education, saying, “We believe in education as an organisation, and more importantly, we believe in identifying with the pupils in these school. We have done this over the past few years, and it is something we’re committed to doing, and will continue to do”.

According to the CEO, the intervention is aimed at keeping the girl child in school and educated, thereby reducing the growing cases of early marriages in society. “The objective is to empower these underprivileged girls through education by providing them with school supplies and personal development tools they need”.

Also, speaking at the presentation of the educational supplies, the Managing Director, Pacegate Limited, owners of Evolve Charity, Umesh Amarnani, acknowledged the essence of sustainable education intervention, noting that the select schools are now our responsibility by adoption, and we will continue to provide the students with school supplies, whilst focusing especially on the girls and teaching their teachers value-based education that impact good manners on the students.

He commended the partnership with Polaris Bank, saying, “we’re happy to partner Polaris Bank and other institutions that have supported us in our cause. And what is most interesting is that all the work is being done voluntarily by all Nigerians working in the company. And we are covering 36 schools across 6 states. We started this initiative four years ago, and we are planning to go on every year and do more and more”.

Earlier the Principals of the beneficiary schools expressed their profound appreciation on behalf of the managements and students of their respective schools.

Mrs. Omolara Awosan, the Principal at Opebi Junior Secondary School, expressed her delight at the good gesture saying: “I’m so excited, on top of the world. I think this is my third time since I became the principal of the school, that they have been here, giving our children school bags, uniform, sandals, and some other writing materials. I’m so happy.”

Like their teachers, the students at all the beneficiary schools could not also hide their excitement as they were full of appreciation and prayers for the kind gesture towards their academic development.

“I have gained from the writing materials I was given and got a bag and school uniform, and I don’t have to buy another uniform to sow aside this…and this presentation, has been being helpful”, Ogunsanya Kemisola, a JSS 2 Student of Opebi Junior Secondary School remarked.

Evolve Charity, a non-profit organisation, is the CSR arm of Pacegate Limited, one of the leading manufacturers of UN Certified Steel Drums and distributor of Adipro Lubricant Additives and chemical solutions to various sectors of the Nigerian Economy. Its partnership with Polaris Bank, Nigeria’s leading Digital Retail Bank was consummated in 2021.

The Girl-Child Education in Nigeria project is one of Polaris Bank’s CSR strategic footprints in education. In addition to girl-child education, the Bank also has other initiatives aimed at improving the lives of women. In 2021, the Bank took its Feminine Hygiene Campaign, an advocacy and capacity building initiative on menstrual hygiene for girls, to nine secondary schools in three states across North-Central & North-East geo-political zones of the country.

Similarly, the Bank embarked on a value-based initiative designed to raise consciousness for women-focused and other societal interventions in the country comprising implementation of tailored interventions like the provision of free breast cancer screening to over 20,000 women in Nigeria in partnerships with Care. Organisation. Public Enlightenment (COPE), Nigeria’s leading breast cancer-focused NGO.

Polaris Bank, adjudged digital bank of the year 2021 and 2022, is a future-determining Bank committed to delivering industry-defining products and services across all sectors of the Nigerian economy.

BRI: NASENI, Chinese Firms Sign MoU, Receives Letters of Intent for $2bn Investments

Business Journal

20/10/2023

At a ceremony attended by Vice President Kashim Shettima on Thursday, October 19, 2023, on the sidelines of the third Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) Forum in Beijing, China, the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure (NASENI) and new Chinese partners signed three (3) Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) for new projects valued at $2 billion.

The three Chinese companies that signed MoU to partner with NASENI and invest in Nigeria include Shanghai Launch Automotive Technical Co Limited – an MoU to establish a new energy automobile facility for the production of new energy electric vehicles.

Others are: China Great Wall Industry Corporation- an MoU for the turnkey delivery of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAV) assembly line projects; and Newway Power Technology Company Limited – an MOU for the transfer of technology on lithium batteries, electric vehicles and allied technologies.

In addition to the MoU, 10 Chinese firms also presented Letters of Intent to the Vice President, indicating strong interest in partnering with NASENI to invest in and develop various technology and industrial innovation projects, collectively valued at $4 billion, covering energy (solar, natural gas, microgrids), vehicle production, training and technology transfer, drone technology, and the development of a new industrial park.

Speaking at the ceremony, Executive Vice Chairman and Chief Executive Officer (EVC/CEO) of NASENI, Mr. Khalil Halilu, who signed the agreements on behalf of NASENI, said: “This is a very important day for us at the National Agency for Science and Engineering Infrastructure, because it is a day to show the results of some of the work that we have been doing in the last six weeks since I assumed the leadership of NASENI.”

He added: “Collectively, these three MoU will, upon implementation, deliver $2 billion worth of new investments in Nigeria; that will translate into jobs, skills development and technology transfer, potential exports and foreign exchange earnings, and a boost to local economies.”

The NASENI EVC/CEO described the MoU and the Letters of Intent as “early fruits of the diligent work of the new NASENI, an institution that we are reforming and building around the core principles of Collaboration, Creation and Commercialisation.

He added that “we see this as a chain: we forge partnerships with willing and committed partners, at home and abroad; on the basis of these partnerships, we create and co-create new products and innovation; and then we ensure that these products are taken to market in a commercially viable and profitable manner.”

He stressed that the Agency will “work very hard to transform them into commercially viable products, that will drive the industrialisation, development, and prosperity of Nigeria”, adding that “Innovation is not meant for the shelves, or the archives. It should translate into usable products. This is our belief, and one of our driving principles at NASENI.”

Halilu expressed gratitude to His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu, who is the Chairman of the Governing Board of NASENI, as well as Vice President Kashim Shettima, for the immense support and encouragement that they have provided to him and to the Agency, pledging that the confidence they have reposed in him will not be misplaced.

The Chinese companies that submitted Letters of Intent to Vice President Shettima are TBEA (solar products); DongFeng Vehicles Co. (vehicle design and production), HiLong Energy (CNG, LNG, methanol); China State Construction Company (building technology and materials); CIMC (natural gas infrastructure delivery).

Others are: Value Platform International Services Limited (vocational training); Acadia Technologies (Shenzhen) Co. Limited. (smart grids and microgrids); Space Star Technology (Drone technology transfer); ENRIC (clean energy utilisation technology); and Hidier Group (development of new industrial park).

GOCOP Congratulates Soneye, NNPCL’s New Spokesman, Enugu Commissioner Agbo, Others on Appointments

Business Journal

20/10/2023

The Guild of Corporate Online Publishers (GOCOP) has congratulated Mr. Olufemi Oladapo Soneye over his appointment as Chief Corporate Communications Officer (CCCO) of the Nigerian National Petroleum Company Limited (NNPCL).

The Association also congratulates its pioneer president, Dr. Malachy Agbo, who was recently sworn in by the Governor of Enugu State, Mr. Peter Mbah as Commissioner for Human Development and Poverty Eradication.

Reacting to the developments, the President of GOCOP and Publisher of Realnews online magazine, Maureen Chigbo, applauded the appointments and enjoined them to remain good ambassadors of GOCOP while counting on the Guild for maximum support.

A press statement by GOCOP Publicity Secretary, Mr. Remmy Nweke, quoted Chigbo as recalling that another high-ranking GOCOP member, Malam Rasheed Olawale of Sahel Standard, was recently appointed as the spokesperson to the Osun State Governor, while Mr. Ajagbe Adeyemi Teslim of August24news was also appointed Special Adviser on Digital Communications to the Lagos Island Council Chairman.

The GOCOP President noted that Mr. Soneye, until his appointment, was of the Per Second News while Dr. Agbo was Founding Publisher of The Citizens.

She wished all the political appointees success in their new roles, reiterating that the Guild is ever ready to support and partner with them to ensure they delivered on their mandates.

GOCOP, a registered non-governmental, non-partisan, non-profit organisation, comprises owners of online publications. It recently held its annual national conference in Abuja.

The conference was chaired by Prof. Ishaq Oloyede, the Registrar and Chief Executive Officer of the Joint Admissions and Matriculation Board (JAMB), while the first Nigerian Professor of Capital Market, Prof. Uche Joseph Uwaleke of Nasarawa State University Keffi, delivered the keynote.

Almond Insurance Industry Award: 1,600 Votes Recorded as Voting Ends Today

Business Journal

20/10/2023

Nominees in the various categories in the 2023 Almond Insurance Industry Awards are in last minute race as voting ends on Friday, October, 20, 2023 by midnight.

The industry players have responded overwhelmingly to the entire process as over 1, 600 people have voted and still counting.

According to the Chairman of the Award Panel of Judges, Ms Prisca Soares, the Panel is now warming up to the task of selecting and cross-checking with collated data from the NIA and NAICOM that will help in choosing eventual winners in the various categories.

The Panel of Judges have also made do their promise of releasing the identity of nominees in the two Special Categories: Insurance Life Achievers Awards and Insurance Broker Life Achievers Award.

These two categories have thrown up heavyweights in the insurance industry such as Valentine Ojumah, Fatai Kayode Lawal, Wole Oshin, Tope Smart and Eddie Efekoha in the insurance. While for Brokers, the likes of Shola Tinubu, Amos Adeyeye, Prosper Okpue, Chief Babajide Agbeja and Prof. Ahmed O. Salawudeen are in the race.

All Winners will be announced at the Awards Nite on Friday, November 3^,2023 at the Queens Park Events Center, Victoria Island, Lagos.

NCDMB Chief: Local Content is Africa’s Route to Economic Development

Business Journal

19/10/2023

African nations seeking to achieve economic prosperity must develop local capabilities to process, utilise, and export their resources as a means of powering their growth and development, the Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB), Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote said on Tuesday.

The Executive Secretary made the submission in his presentation at the on-going 2023 Africa Energy Week in Cape Town, South Africa. He regretted that most African nations lacked requisite local capacities in key areas of the oil and industry such as Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Fabrication, Installation, Commissioning, and Operation, and that resulted in the loss of job creation opportunities, revenues, skills acquisition, and other aspects of national development.

A further negative impact is that those broad categories take a significant proportion of the oil and gas industry expenditure, hence it is expedient for oil-producing nations to develop local capabilities that would ensure that those financial outlays are retained in-country, he said.

Advising on the strategy for enhancing local content capacity in African nations, Wabote stated that one important plan is to make local content a national agenda and back it with the appropriate legislation or legal framework in their respective jurisdictions. This would “make it clear to all and sundry that local procurement, fabrication, and manufacturing is a national priority such that all institutions, businesses, decision-makers, investors, and citizens will buy into the vision.”

Using Nigeria as an example, Wabote recalled that Nigeria started with policy directives to deepen local content practice in the oil and gas sector before enacting the Nigerian Oil and Gas Industry Content Development (NOGICD) Act in 2010, thereby eliminating the possibility of companies complying with local content requirements in the oil and gas sector on ‘best endeavour’ basis.’

He listed other strategies for enhancing local content capacity as establishing factual data on current capacities in-country and carrying out gap analysis between current realities and the national vision. He noted that “periodic gap analyses are essential to determine gaps that need to be closed and the progress being made in the target areas of interest.

He insisted that local content is not ‘copy and paste’, hence local peculiarities must be factored into programs aimed at enhancing local capabilities.”

The NCDMB boss identified other enhancement tools to include Structured Capacity Building interventions to close identified gaps and funding and incentives, describing them as essentials to implement local content programs, develop infrastructure, attract new investments, and keep existing businesses afloat.

Speaking further, Wabote highlighted the importance of patronizing in-country capacities and capabilities, clarifying that all policies, capacities, and individuals will become frustrated if there is no outlet to engage them and receive rewards for sustainability and growth.

He explained that the Board ensures patronage of local goods and services by using the ‘right of first refusal’ principle contained in the Nigerian Content Act and various project certification and compliance monitoring tools.

Giving an update on the Board’s activities, the Executive Secretary informed that NCDMB commenced the implementation of a 10-year Strategic Roadmap in 2018, with the goal of raising the level of Nigerian Content in the Nigerian Oil and Gas industry to 70% by the year 2027. He indicated that various initiatives were put in place under five strategic pillars and four vision enablers. He noted that “as at end of year 2022, and five years into the 10-year journey, we have achieved 54% Nigerian Content level against the target of 42%.”

NCDMB/ NLNG Working Group Reaffirms Commitment to Local Content Performance

Business Journal

19/10/2023

The Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board (NCDMB) and foremost gas firm, the Nigeria Liquefied Natural Gas Company (NLNG) Limited are strengthening self-appraisal mechanisms instituted to advance objectives of local content compliance and development.

At a one-day meeting of the NCDMB/NLNG Technical Working Group held at the Nigerian Content Tower (NCT), corporate headquarters of the NCDMB, on Tuesday, key personnel of the two organisations led by Engr. Paul Zuhumben, General Manager, Project Certification and AuthorisationDivision (PCAD), NCDMB, and Mr. Andy Odeh, General Manager, External Relations, NLNG, expressed satisfaction with the grounds covered in the implementation of action plans.

Deliberations centred around measures to secure approval of in-house operational blueprint, Energy Transition, Advanced Training, Executive Summary Report on NLNG Train-7, and update on capacity building. It was noted that “most activities are on-going.”

Related subjects dealt at the meeting include Development of NCDMB’s Nigeria Oil and Gas Industry Content Joint Qualification System E-Marketplace Module, NLNG Asset Human Capacity Development Implementation, NLNG Train-7 HCD and R&D Execution Update, Monitoring of LNG Contracts below US$1 million, NLNG-NCDMB Service Level Agreements Performance Review, Factors Affecting Commercial Evaluation Delays, Energy Transition Workshop, and Expatriate Quota.

The TWG emphasised the critical importance of stakeholder surveys and committed to ensuring prompt attention to matters raised for consideration. A Stakeholders Retreat was agreed upon to facilitate knowledge-sharing interactions. Scheduled to hold within the last quarter of 2023 on Bonny Island, the Retreat would include community and plant tour, sessions on Nigerian Content practices, and a golf competition.

The Technical Working Group, conceived by the Managements of both companies to facilitate “in-person discussion and resolution of strategic, tactical and operational issues, aims to “cut out bureaucracy and improve efficiency of decision-making, approvals, and Nigerian Content Development for NLNG. It acts as first level discussion and escalation group to review and unblock thorny issues or delays arising from Nigerian Content compliance on contracts and projects that have been unable to reach satisfactory resolution at the operational/officer level, among other things.

Earlier in his opening remarks, the Chairman of the Group, Engr. Paul Zuhumben, commended NLNG for clinching the Nigerian Content Contribution Award and its invaluable contribution toward the E-marketplace initiative.

At the end of the Meeting, NLNG’s External Relations General Manager, Andy Odeh declared that deliberations were very successful. According to him, the Group meets “to look at issues that border around enabling the business where there are challenges, so that those issues don’t become crises that begin to distort the business we do in NLNG: It could be NLNG is not giving enough information as it should or it could be that NCDMB is not moving as fast as they should, either with approvals or proposals that we have.”

Explaining further, he said, “We see ourselves as one because we are looking at a common goal, and the TWG Meeting helps us to be proactive in managing the things we manage either as a company, NLNG, or as an operator.”

The next meeting of the TWG is scheduled tentatively for February 2024 in Port Harcourt.

NAICOM Visits Housing Minister for National Insurance Conference 2023

Business Journal

19/10/2023

As part of the National Insurance Commission’s drive to ensure optimal participation in the 2023 National Insurance Conference, the Commissioner for Insurance, Olorundare Sunday Thomas and a delegation from NAICOM has paid a courtesy visit on the Honourable Minister for Housing and Urban Development, Arc. Ahmed Musa Dangiwa.

The visit afforded the Commissioner the opportunity to apprise the Minister of activities of the Commission. Mr. Thomas also formally requested the physical attendance of the Minister at the National Insurance Conference being organised by the Commission.

In his response, the Minister accepted the Commission’s extended hands of collaboration in the area of compliance with the laws on public buildings and buildings under construction. He also confirmed his active participation and the Ministry of Housing in the conference scheduled to hold from 22-24 October 2023.

GIABA DG, Edwin Harris Jr, to Deliver Realnews 11th Anniversary Lecture

Business Journal

19/10/2023

Edwin W. Harris Jr.

Director General

ECOWAS Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), Senegal.

The Management of Realnews Magazine and Publications Limited, publishers of Realnews Magazine Online, has announced that Edwin W. Harris Jr, Director General of the ECOWAS Inter-Governmental Action Group Against Money Laundering in West Africa (GIABA), Senegal will deliver the Realnews 11^th Anniversary Lecture.

The lecture on “Threats of Illict Funds Flow to the African Economy” will hold at the Sheraton Hotel, Lagos, on Tuesday, November 7, 2023.

The director general’s acceptance to deliver the lecture was communicated to Realnews in a letter dated September 25, 2023, that he personally signed. “With the immense interest I have generated in illicit financial flow from Africa and its negative impact on the governance, economies and other social facets of the African people, I am pleased to confirm my participation and graciously accept your invitation,” Harris Jr. wrote.

Harris Jr. has over 16 years of progressive experience in the public sector and in non-profit structures with in-depth knowledge and skills in governance, transparency and financial crimes. He has relevant skills on issues relating to governance, in the fight against money laundering, in the formulation of policies and the implementation of anti-corruption strategies.

From November 2019 to July 2022, he was director of the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) of Liberia. Under his tenure and to his credit, he, among other things, successfully coordinated the validation and publication of Liberia’s National Risk Assessment (NRA) report. Until his assumption of duty at GIABA, Harris Jr. was a Lecturer at the University of Liberia.

The lecture will be chaired by Mohammed Bello-Koko, Managing Director of Nigerian Ports Authority, NPA, who will also moderate the panel session.

Realnews, a general interest magazine, is an online publication that thrives on investigative journalism. We have expertise in reporting the oil and gas sector with its attendant environmental challenges. We aim to unearth exclusive stories about real people and the challenges they are facing in their day-to-day activities.

We do this bearing in mind that government can only act to influence the lives of people positively if they are aware of their true situation. Hence, our objective is to use our investigative skills to ferret out information in the sectors we focus on and produce an unbiased report which will actually influence the government and decision-makers to take actions that will make society better.
Realnews is populated by seasoned journalists who believe strongly in the tenets and ethics of the profession. The online publication believes that journalism as the fourth Estate of the Realm can contribute its quota towards building a fair and just society where fundamental human rights are respected and citizens have the freedom to pursue their interests anywhere in the world without hindrance. Its editors have a combined experience of several decades in active journalism practice and are highly dedicated to serving humanity. Hence its motto: “For God and Humanity.”
Realnews Anniversary Lecture Series was established to commemorate the best minds in our society and to tap from them to enrich the discourse in our national development.
The 10^th Anniversary lecture in 2022 on “Drug Abuse among Youths in Africa: Implication for Nigerian Economy and 2023 Elections” was delivered by Brig General Buba Marwa, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of the National Drug Law Enforcement Agency, NDLEA; 9^th Anniversary Lecture of Realnews in 2021 was delivered by Engr. Simbi Kesiye Wabote, Executive Secretary of the Nigerian Content Development and Monitoring Board on “Nigeria in the Unfolding Integration of the African Market: The Oil and Gas Perspective”; 2020 Eighth Anniversary Lecture of Realnews was delivered by Boss Mustapha, Secretary to the Government of the Federation and Chairman of the Presidential Taskforce on COVID-19 on Managing COVID-19 Pandemic in Africa: The Nigeria Experience; Former President John Dramani Mahama of Ghana gave the 2019 Lecture on Beyond Politics: An Economic Narrative for West Africa while Prof. Mahmood Yakubu spoke on Political Transitions and Africa’s Economic Development: Preparations for Nigeria’s 2019 General Elections at the 2018 Lecture.

The 2017 Fifth Anniversary Lecture on African Leadership in a Turbulent Era was delivered by Dr. Oby Ezekwesili, former minister of Education and former World Bank Vice President. The 2016 Fourth Anniversary Lecture on Security and National Development in Plural Democratic Society was delivered by Dr. Mohamed Ibn Chambas, former United Nations Secretary General’s Special Representative to West Africa and Sahel; the 2015 Realnews Third Anniversary Lecture was delivered by Professor Chukwuma Charles Soludo, former Governor of the Central Bank of Nigeria (CBN) on November 19, 2015, under the theme: It’s The Nigerian Economy, Stupid?

The Second Realnews Anniversary Lecture on Nigerian Democracy: Getting it Right in 2014 was delivered by Professor Maurice Iwu, former Chairman of the Independent National Electoral Commission (INEC).

Smile Communications Unveils CSR Initiative to Support Nigerian Schools

Business Journal

18/10/2023

L-R: Loyola College School Principal, Mr. Akinlayo and Smile representative, Mrs. Abodunde

Smile Communications, a leading telecommunications company with a strong presence in 9 States in Nigeria, is proud to announce the launch of a comprehensive Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiative aimed at primary and secondary schools within its service areas across Nigeria.

With a deep commitment to making a positive impact in the communities it serves, Smile Communications has initiated this program to support schools as they resume new terms, particularly in these challenging times. As part of this CSR effort, Smile Communications will be distributing hundreds of exercise books to each of these schools, benefiting students and educators alike.

The primary objectives of this CSR initiative are to:

Support Education: Provide essential learning materials to students in underserved communities to enhance their educational experience.

Promote Community Engagement: Strengthen the bond between Smile Communications and the communities it serves by actively contributing to their development.

Encourage Learning: Encourage a culture of learning and academic excellence among Nigerian youth, helping them realise their full potential.

Speaking about this initiative, ‘Goke Olaleye], Head of Marketing Operations at Smile Communications, stated:

“At Smile Communications, we believe in giving back to the society that has supported us over the years. We recognise the challenges faced by parents, students and schools alike, during these times, and our CSR initiative is our way of providing meaningful support. Directly to schools and indirectly to the government in the alleviation of the hardships associated with new term / session resumptions.”

Smile Communications is dedicated to fostering sustainable growth and development in regions where it provides its services. This initiative is a testament to the company’s on-going commitment to corporate social responsibility.

New NCC Boss, Aminu Maida, Commits to Tinubu’s Vision on Digital Economy

Business Journal

18/10/2023

The new Executive Vice Chairman (EVC) of the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC), Dr. Aminu Maida, has said he would align the Commission’s regulatory focus to achieve the promises of President Bola Ahmed Tinubu’s Renewed Hope agenda to advance the nation’s digital transformation agenda.

Maida, who spoke to the Senior Management team of the Commission at the Commission’s Head Office in Abuja Tuesday, said there is a need to ensure that the NCC strategically focuses on ensuring all Nigerians have access to affordable and reliable broadband services. Part of this is to ensure “effective broadband infrastructure diffusion across the length and breadth of Nigeria.

The new telecom regulator paid tributes to former chief executives of the Commission for their laudable role in building a resilient telecoms industry. Dr. Maida said the pursuit of improved quality of service on the networks will be one of his priorities, as well as supporting the vision of the Federal Government and the Ministry of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy.

“Considering the fact that many people are going more digital and virtual in everything they do, the telecom infrastructure is now under much stress. President Tinubu’s vision emphasises the need to build more robust broadband connectivity that will not only facilitate seamless digital transactions but also serve as the bedrock for e-governance and other socio-economic initiatives,” he said.

“As such, we would align with this aspiration to increase broadband penetration to 70 per cent and to cover 90 per cent of the population by 2025. Therefore, we need to build a reliable telecom industry with impressive quality of service (QoS) indicators with quality of experience (QoE) as our watchword and ultimate goal. This also requires us to address a number of issues such as the Right of Way (RoW) challenge, ensuring security of our telecom infrastructure, among others. Efforts must be made to significantly improve service delivery by ensuring the NCC is performance-driven,” he said.

“Mr President has a very clear agenda from which all of us are going to take our direction. The two major areas are job creation and enabling the digital economy. Where we are going in a nutshell is; everything that we do in this Commission has to align directly with the Strategic Plan of the Hon. Minister of Communications, Innovations and Digital Economy, Dr. Bosun Tijani and ultimately to the Renewed Hope agenda of His Excellency, President Bola Ahmed Tinubu. We would not deviate from that.

“We would not entertain anything that deviates from this direction because my key performance indicators (KPIs) are fed into the Minister’s KPIs and the President KPIs come from the electorate that put him into power. The Hon.Minister has said clearly that he is ready to build a robust digital infrastructure and empower three million Nigerians digitally and we have to do our best to support him in this regard,” Maida said.

He stated further that, in the Strategic Plan of the Minister, there was a plan to empower three million Nigerians in digital skills and entrepreneurship, adding that this will require the Commission to support Digital Bridge Institute (DBI) as a digital training institution, to be well positioned in driving the government’s agenda on youth empowerment.

The EVC also emphasised the importance of effective spectrum management and utilisation in supporting the envisioned digital connectivity agenda, which is critical to service deployment to the generality of Nigerians and businesses in the country.

Maida, while appreciating his predecessors and the entire staff of the Commission for the laudable role being played in digital transformation of all sectors by stimulating the deployment of baseline telecom infrastructure, however, called on the staff of the Commission to join his leadership with a sense of purpose as a team towards advancing the actualisation of the President’s Renewed Hope agenda, which, he said, recognises a thriving digital economy in achieving sustainable development and quality of life for all citizens.

Polaris Bank Partners Millwater on Stable Power Delivery to Industrial Clusters

Business Journal

18/10/2023

L-R: Lagos Deputy Governor, Dr. Obafemi Hamzat; Vice President, Kashim Shettima; Ogun State Governor, Prince Dapo Abiodun; Executive Director Polaris Bank, Chinwe Iloghalu and Deputy Managing Director, Wema Bank, Wole Akinleye at the Agbara Business Roundtable, Ogun State recently.

Polaris Bank Limited has expressed its commitment to partner with Millwater to deliver uninterrupted power to industrial clusters in Nigeria in order to accelerate the industrialization drive of the current administration.

While giving the assurance on the sidelines of the recent Agbara Business Roundtable which held in Agbara, Ogun State, Polaris Bank’s Executive Director, Lagos & Corporate Banking, Chinwe Iloghalu who represented the Bank’s Managing Director/CEO, Adekunle Sonola, expressed the lender’s readiness to provide the required funding to Millwater, a Technical Partner of Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) to make the Light Up Nigeria project, a reality.

Polaris Bank is the financial partner to Millwater Limited which is serving as a Special Purpose Vehicle (SPV) and partnering with NDPHC to deliver the Light Up Nigeria project of the federal government.

At the event, Vice President, Senator Kashim Shettima, while noting that Nigeria holds tremendous opportunities for not only investors, but also the people, restated Federal Government commitment to investors and industries to deliver adequate power supply across industrial clusters.

Shettima decried situation where industrial clusters like Agbara had to rely on other sources of power supply other than the national grid, and assured that the Federal Government through the Niger Delta Power Holding Company (NDPHC) is committed to ensuring that clusters like Agbara benefit from cheaper means of generating power in their various factories.

The Business Roundtable which drew cream of the Nigerian society across different spectrum had the Ogun State Governor, Dapo Abiodun; Lagos Deputy Governor, Obafemi Hamzat; Minister for Power, Adebayo Adelabu and NDPHC CEO, Chiedu Ugbo, all lauding the Light Up Initiatives of the present government which they reckon will fast-track Nigeria’s industrialization efforts.

Polaris Bank has been a strong partner in funding Nigeria’s energy players to deliver value to critical stakeholders and this project which is dear to the heart of the current administration, will not be an exception.

Recall Polaris Bank recently funded the delivery of a full cargo with an indigenous firm to the tune of N13bn, thus enabling the transportation of the 20,000 metric tonnes, or 27 million litres of petrol, to the country. The Bank’s support exemplified the pivotal role played by the financial institution to support the growth of the critical energy sector of the economy.

The event was to launch an initiative to ensure dedicated power supply to industrial clusters across the country, starting with Agbara Industrial Estate.

Polaris Bank, adjudged Digital Bank of the Year 2021 and 2022, is a future-determining Bank committed to the delivery of industry-defining products, and services, across all the sectors of the Nigerian economy.

Unity Bank Customers Win Over N.5m in Verve Card Promo

Business Journal

18/10/2023

Unity Bank customers, Nmeregini Chukwuebuka and Sharif Yusuf Mohd have emerged as winners of N500,000 and N150,000 respectively in the ongoing Verve National Consumer Promo.

Organised by payment processor, Verve Card Services Limited, the winners emerged in the August draw where other Unity Bank customers also won prizes including fuel vouchers, electricity payments, shopping vouchers, etc.

The promotion, which started in August 2023, will run till January 2024. It presents an opportunity for all Unity Bank’s Verve cardholders, active and inactive, to win the different categories of prizes. However, customers are advised to activate their Verve Cards and increase their frequency of transactions across any transaction channels – POS, ATM and WEB in order to increase their chances of winning.

To win as a Unity Bank Verve card holder, customers are expected to perform at least two additional transactions with their Verve cards every week, with a customer’s chance of winning increasing with the frequency of transactions.

Congratulating the Unity Bank winners, the Head of E-Business, Eghomware Iyamu commended Verve Card for organizing the promo which is intended to drive uptake of technology, e-banking and financial inclusion.

He expressed satisfaction with the partnership that exists between the organization and Unity Bank which has been mutually beneficial in terms of increased adoption of the cashless society, digital payment and convenient Banking.

Speaking further on the reward, Iyamu stated: “Unity Bank is happy to continue the issuance of Verve Card whilst the promo presents a unique opportunity for Unity Bank customers who transact with their Verve cards to enjoy substantial financial benefits in cash, vouchers and other gifts”.

He added that “Verve Card also allows Unity Bank customers to take advantage of added security and convenience that comes with the Verve cards, which offers advanced security features, reducing the risk of fraudulent transactions; while providing customers with the convenience of making payments and withdrawals at numerous locations across the country.”

Iyamu therefore invites customers of Unity Bank Plc to pick up and activate their Verve cards to enhance their overall banking experience.

As Nigeria’s top retail lender, Unity Bank values its customers and strives to offer them attractive incentives for their trust and patronage. This promo aligns with the bank’s commitment to rewarding customer satisfaction and loyalty.

The Alternative Bank Enters Market with Lagos, Abuja, Kano Launch

Business Journal

18/10/2023

L-R: Chairman, The Alternative Bank, MUHTAR BAKARE; Executive Chairman, Stratevium Nigeria Limited, Dr. PRISCA NDU; Head of Product, Omnibiz, ZAINAB ARILESERE and CEO, The Alternative Bank, HASSAN YUSUF during the launch of The Alternative Bank in Lagos recently.

The Alternative Bank, Nigeria’s newest entrant into the financial services sector, launched in spectacular fashion by holding simultaneous launch events in three major cities across the country – Lagos, Abuja, and Kano, making it the first synchronised multi-city brand launch in Nigeria’s history. The Alternative Bank is the ethical banking subsidiary of Sterling Financial Holdings.

Speaking from Lagos, Managing Director of The Alternative Bank, Hassan Yusuf, said, “We believe that banking should be a platform for shared prosperity, where everyone benefits. And this explains why we refer to our customers as partners, because we believe we are on a journey of wealth creation where profits are shared, and customers are provided with funds without incurring interest charges.”

Speaking at the launch event in Abuja, Executive Director of The Alternative Bank, Garba Mohammed, said “The Alternative Bank is here to create wealth-for-all in a sustainable way, by doing things differently and taking a different model to partnering with its customers.”

The launch events featured the presentation of digital products to attendees, designed to bring more people into the formal financial sector with an albeit unconventional approach to e-commerce, investments, assets financing, and renewable energy with solutions such as AltMall for e-commerce, AltInvest for ethical retail investments, AltPower for affordable renewable energy solutions, AltDrive for new and pre-owned vehicle financing, and WasteBanc for the monetisation recyclable waste.

In recognition of the unique financial needs of individuals and businesses, The Alternative Bank offers personalized financial consultations, tailored solutions, and one-on-one guidance towards ensuring that customers achieve their financial goals. The zero-interest banking principle is dedicated to fostering sustainable practices, responsible investments and financial decisions that contribute to positive social and environmental impacts.

The Alternative Bank also recently launched an innovation in retail investments with the first AltCoin which affords investors the opportunity to preserve and grow their wealth by investing in gold.

The Alternative Bank started in 2014 as Sterling Alternative Finance, after the Central Bank of Nigeria licensed then Sterling Bank Plc to operate a non-interest banking business and has since grown to become one of the largest ethical banks in Nigeria’s non-interest banking sector.

With the recent completion of Sterling’s transition to a full-fledged financial holdings company, The Alternative Bank will operate as the non-interest banking subsidiary of the Group, while Sterling Bank Limited will continue to provide conventional banking services.

Sanlam General CEO, Bode Opadokun, Wins 2023 CEO Today Africa Award

Business Journal

18/10/2023

The CEO Today Africa Awards celebrates exceptional leaders who are revolutionising the business landscape in Africa. This prestigious award recognises individuals who have demonstrated outstanding leadership, achieved remarkable success and made significant contributions to their industries. Bode Opadokun has been honored with the prestigious 2023 CEO Today Africa Award.

Bode Opadokun is an accomplished business leader and insurance mogul with a remarkable track record in the financial services sector and the Managing Director/CEO of Sanlam General Insurance Nigeria Limited. Opadokun, emerging as the winner of this esteemed accolade, solidifies his position as a prominent figure in the African business community.

The selection process for the CEO Today Africa Awards is rigorous and comprehensive. A panel of industry experts carefully evaluates the nominees based on a range of criteria, including leadership skills, financial performance, innovation, strategic vision, and industry impact. The winners are chosen based on their exceptional achievements and their ability to inspire and lead their teams to success.

Opadokun is an insightful and versatile insurance professional with over three decades’ work of experience in underwriting, marketing and executive managerial experience. His areas of expertise include general business and special risks, as well as agricultural insurance. Opadokun’s dedication to fostering a culture of innovation and creativity has resulted in the development of disruptive products and services in the Nigerian insurance industry.
His forward-thinking approach has allowed him to stay ahead of the curve and drive success for himself and the organisations he leads. He led the Sanlam General Insurance business to be the first insurance company in Nigeria to use a dynamic USSD Code to resolve a motor insurance claim in less than 40 minutes. This service is tagged, Code of Confidence. With a dial of *1056# on your phone, you can resolve your motor insurance claims in a few minutes.

While receiving the award, Opadokun said: “I am deeply honoured and humbled to receive the 2023 CEO Today Africa Awards. Opadokun thanked everyone and dedicated the award to the staff members of Sanlam General Insurance who have been making the organisation thrive. Other notable winners of the award from Nigeria are the CEO, First Pension Custodian, Oloruntimilehin George, and the CEO, BUA Cement, Yusuf Haliru Binju.

Sanlam Nigeria, formerly FBN Insurance and FBN General Insurance, comprising Sanlam Life Insurance Nigeria Limited and Sanlam General Insurance Nigeria Limited, is Nigeria’s fastest-growing insurance company with multiple awards and recognitions including 4-time World Finance Life Insurance Company of the Year among others. With a presence in over 66 locations, the brand is easily one of the most retail-driven insurers in Nigeria boasting a sales force of over 3000 sales champions and strong user-friendly technological support to ensure on-the-spot policy uptake.
Sanlam Nigeria is a member of the Sanlam Pan Africa (SPA), a truly pan-African brand with a rich history and heritage founded in 1918 as a life insurance company. Headquartered in South Africa, the brand has grown to become Africa’s largest non-banking financial services group, with a strong presence in 33 countries on the African continent including Nigeria, and a niche presence in India, Malaysia, the United Kingdom and Australia. Indeed, Sanlam operates in 8 out of the 10 largest economies in Africa, with over 154,000 employees globally, delivering superior value to customers, shareholders and the broader society.

NCC, NAICOM, PenCom, SEC, NEM, Dangote, Stanbic IBTC, STI for Business Journal 15th Anniversary Lecture

Business Journal

16/10/2023

The Business Journal 15^th Anniversary Lecture/Awards scheduled for Friday, October 27, 2023 at Radisson Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos under the theme: ‘Nigeria: The Economic Outlook Today & Tomorrow.’ has continued to attract immense corporate support from key federal government agencies and operators in the Organised Private Sector (OPS).

At the last count, the Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC); National Insurance Commission (NAICOM); National Pension Commission (PenCom); Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC); NEM Insurance Plc; Dangote Group and Stanbic IBTC Bank Plc have indicated interest and participation in the anniversary lecture.

Others include Stanbic IBTC Insurance Limited; SUNU Assurances Plc; Hilal Takaful Nigeria Limited; Sovereign Trust Insurance Plc; West Africa Business School and Boff & Co. Insurance Brokers Limited.

Commenting, Prince Cookey, Publisher/Editor-in-Chief of Business Journal Media Group, said:

“We owe immense debt of gratitude to the regulatory agencies and corporate bodies for graciously supporting our 15^th anniversary lecture. We equally appreciate other corporate firms for supporting the growth of Business Journal since inception in 2008. We are indeed challenged by the gesture and we solemnly promise to keep the flag of Business Journal flying higher in the Nigerian media space. Our 15 years in the media industry in Nigeria as a value-adding and going concern is a testimony to the Grace of God, vision, professionalism, enterprise, doggedness and perseverance in the face of daunting challenges in the operating environment. We equally extend our profound gratitude to numerous individuals and corporate bodies (public and private) that have been our business backbone since 2008. As we look forward to the anniversary lecture, we remain committed to our vision to rank as the leading media group in Nigeria and Africa despite our lean resources today.”

The anniversary lecture, which has ‘Nigeria: The Economic Outlook Today & Tomorrow’ as theme would be Chaired by Dr. Aminu Maida, the new Executive Vice-Chairman/CEO, Nigerian Communications Commission (NCC) while renowned economist and financial expert, Dr. Biodun Adedipe is the keynote speaker.

The Special Guests of Honour include: Mr. O.S. Thomas, Commissioner for Insurance/CEO, National Insurance Commission (NAICOM); Mrs. Aisha Dahir-Umar, Director-General, National Pension Commission (PenCom) and Mr. Lamido Yuguda, Director-General, Securities & Exchange Commission (SEC).

Mr. Tope Smart, Group Managing Director/CEO, NEM Insurance Plc and Past President of AIO is the Guest of Honour while the Guest Speakers include: Professor Anthony Kila, Director, CIAPS Lagos; Dr. Bode Oguntoke, Group Head of Audit, FBN Holdings Plc; Mr. Jide Orimolade, Managing Director/CEO, Stanbic IBTC Insurance Limited and Mrs. Thaibat Adeniran, Managing Director/CEO, Hilal Takaful Nigeria Limited.

Cookey added that other distinguished personalities and corporate bodies for the anniversary lecture would be unveiled in due course.

The Business Journal 15^th Anniversary Lecture is scheduled for Friday, October 27, 2023 at Radisson Hotel, GRA, Ikeja, Lagos at 10.00am.

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